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N.Y. show's expo floor offers new produce items

NEW YORK — From value-added items such as stuffed mushrooms and soup kits, to new packaging for lemons and guacamole kits, exhibitors at the New York Produce Show and Conference focused on convenience and innovation Nov. 8 at the Hilton New York.

Red, yellow and orange peppers grown in Israeli greenhouses will be available November through August, said Sue Tamm, director of new business development.

Albert’s will supply the peppers nationwide individually and will offer color combinations in two- or three-packs, she said.

Columbia Marketing

Columbia Marketing International, Wenatchee, Wash., showed off new shipping and display boxes for its Grapples, as well as four-pack tube bags it launched last year.

“Maybe the best thing about them is that some retailers tell us they can offer them for $1 less than they could Grapples in other (clamshell) packaging,” said Bob Mast, vice president of marketing.

New Grapple boxes feature a monkey character on a high-graphic display format.

Also new for CMI at the show: a 2-pound pear bag featuring smaller-sized pears called the Petite Park Place Pears line; and a self-contained, two-box Orchard Fresh shipper.

Dulcich & Sons

Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons, Delano, Calif., is taking its seasonal marketing and packaging approach on grapes to a new level this Christmas.

Following up on the successful Harvest Hobgoblin retail promotion before Halloween, Nick Dulcich, co-owner and sales manager, said he is excited about the Pretty Lady grapes Christmas season launch of high-graphic, holiday-themed packs, bins, danglers and posters.

Sourced from Colombia and available year-round, the berries will be sold at retail in 5-ounce plastic containers with lids, said Christine Runkle, saleswoman.

Cape gooseberries are high in vitamins A and C as well as B complexes, she said, and have a sweet-tart taste with notes of citrus.

Fresh Cut Produce

Many times, fresh produce companies expand foodservice business to the retail scene, but Newark, N.J.-based Fresh Cut Produce is finding success using the opposite strategy, said vice president Harold Miller.

The company did well with retail first and is beginning to branch out into foodservice, offering kosher packs of such offerings as celery roots, leeks, stir-fry medleys, butternut squash, yams, bok choy and a capri blend.

“Our turnaround time for an order is like two hours on our product, and we can cut to order,” Miller said.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce/Sunset launched three products at the expo, including a Fresh Tomato Soup Kit designed to include everything a consumer needs to create tomato soup for four in 20 minutes.

“These will start shipping next week and they include 2 pounds of tomatoes, spices and croutons specially formulated to not get soggy,” said Paul Mastronardi, president.

The company also introduced its Delano tomato, billed as a full-flavored tomato-on-the-vine ideal for use in salads, sandwiches and sauces.

The 1.1-pound trays of Delano tomatoes began shipping in early November, Mastronardi said.

They are packed in flow-wrapped, compostable trays and feature year-round availability.

Also new at the show: Mastronardi’s non-GMO project One Sweet Pepper packs, which contain several multi-colored peppers featuring packaging with quick-response codes that provide consumers with detailed information on the specific peppers in the package.

Mission Produce

Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce now has 1-kilogram club packs of green asparagus.

Packed in bags made from breathable film, the large-size asparagus stalks are protected from handling in the display aisle, said David Austin, director of marketing.

Mission has been selling the packs at Wegman’s stores for about two months now, Austin said, and they retail for $5.99-6.99.

Onofrio’s Fresh Cut

A late October launch of Harvest Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms, an extension of the company’s top-selling line, emerged as the big topic of discussion at the show booth of New Haven, Conn.-based Onofrio’s Fresh Cut.

“What’s unique is that butternut squash is the main ingredient in the stuffing, and it also includes cranberries and brown sugar,” said Jody Russo, president of Wood River Services Inc., East Greenwich, R.I., which handles marketing for Onofrio’s Fresh Cut.

The cups allow retailers more efficient use of shelf space and better product display, said John Alva, global supply chain manager.

Savoura

Greenhouse tomato grower Savoura, Portneuf, Quebec, began replicating its Canadian operation in the Queretaro region of Mexico in August, with 5 acres of production, along with a new distribution center in McAllen, Texas, said Robert Boudreau, director of business development for North America.

Sun Glo

Sun Glo of Idaho Inc., Sugar City, Idaho, is including a microwave steamer bag with its bagged russet potatoes.

A label on the bulk bag includes a detachable Kwik-Lok tag for closure as well as a QR code that provides recipe ideas, said Mary Sedberry, saleswoman.

Sunkist

Sunkist Growers, Sherman Oaks, Calif., showed off new lemon packaging at the expo.